Chiron Corporation, Emeryville | Emeryville, CA
For his role as the "father" of bio-technology, and his contributions and leadership in development of a revolutionary new field that affects drug design and medical treatment. His vision to combine science and technology shaped and defined the field of biotechnology.
In 1981, William J. Rutter founded Chiron Corporation, in conjuction with a former Stanford colleague. Chiron soon grew to be a major biotechnology firm, orginally focusing on developing vaccines and tests for infectious disease, including hepatitis. Chiron is now among the world's largest biotechnology companies, specializing in work relating to vaccines, blood testing, and biopharmaceutical development.
Rutter received a B.A. in Chemistry from Harvard University in 1949, a M.S. from the University of Utah in 1950, and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in 1952.
Rutter served as Treasurer of the American Society of Biological Chemists from 1970 to 1976, as President of the Pacific Slope Biological Conference from 1975 to 1976, and as President of the American Society for Developmental Biology also from 1975 to 1976. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1984 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1987.
Information as of April 2000